An ad hoc network is a collection of wireless mobile nodes that are
capable of forming a cooperative agreement (network) between
themselves without requiring any centralized control function. Due to
their non-reliance on fixed infrastructure, ad hoc networks are
gaining popularity in several networking applications including,
military, rescue operations and meetings and conventions. Generally,
protocols used at medium access and physical layers of ad hoc networks
are similar to those used in infrastructure based wireless
networks. It is a common practise in infrastructure based wireless
networks to use pre-data exchange of control information to eliminate
the "hidden terminal" problem. Although the use of pre-data exchange
of control information introduces the "exposed terminals", it has been
shown that throughput performance of infrastructure networks generally
improves with use of such mechanisms. However, ad hoc networks
topologies differ signifcantly from those of access point based
(infrastructure) wireless networks, hence the effect of hidden and
exposed terminals in ad hoc networks is different than in
infrastructure based networks. In this paper we show, through
analytical studies and simulations, that exposed terminal problem
dominates in ad hoc networks, and therefore, contrary to some
previously published results, the use of RTS/CTS handshake may be
detrimental to the network's throughput performance.